Meadowlands: Analysis for Saturday 2/12

MEET STATS: 116-26-19-14 / $166.40 (-$65.60)

BEST BETS: 8-3-2-1 / $8.60 (-7.40)

SPOT PLAYS: 8-2-1-1 / $25.00 (+$9.00)

BEST BET: WRAPPERS DELIGHT A (1st)

SPOT PLAY: MY PAL JOE (10th)

Race 1: $20,000-$24,000 Claiming Handicap - Pick 5

(2) WRAPPERS DELIGHT A drops in for a tag for the first time tonight and is facing MUCH easier competition. It is hard to imagine he won't show up with a strong effort. (3) MANHATTAN BEACH is a classy veteran that picked up a win last Saturday. This barn has been first or second an amazing 50% of the time (29 for 58) during the meet. (6) JUST N ACE has finished second in this class four times in his last five starts.

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Race 2: $7,500 Claiming

(4) CAPTAIN’S REIGN was kept under restraint on the final turn as McCarthy had to deal with a broken headpole, but once the field straightened away in the lane he let him go and watched the 5-year-old surge to the front. He stays in the same class and seems like a bet-back play. (3) ALWAYS A FORCE was flat in his first start since July. More can be expected now. (1) OPUS BLUE CHIP has early speed and decent form.

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Race 3: TrackMaster Rating 77 (NW L2/5 78.85/79.62) or less - Survivor 7

(8) GAME OF CHANGE moves into the Estrada barn and he's aces with new horses. In a field without a standout, I believe in his ability to make this horse go. (4) TAKEITTOTHEFACE is in very good form now and only needs a reasonable trip to have a shot. (7) P-DRIVE HANOVER is another switching barns. His form has been fine. (2) SVENGALI is unlikely to be ready but Silva can work miracles with these project horses.

Race 4: Winners 2-4 (NW L3 5) races life

(7) THEFLYINGROCK perhaps was a bit short in his qualifier but still raced very well and should be tight for tonight. (5) HESTHERIGHTSTUFF reunites with Callahan here. Five-year-old had a tough trip most recently and just missed in his prior start. (9) TRUFFLE DOG beat #5 by a neck last time out but must deal with a tough post tonight.

Race 5: Non-winners $7,500 in last 5/TM 83 or less

This is a salty NW7500 and certainly not the easy spot I was hoping for with (8) GOOD ROCKIN. That said, he was the victim of poor decision-making last week and clearly had more left as he finished up under a hold. The "Minister of Speed" is aboard now and this guy is ready to win. (1) LEON DAVID drops out of claimers off an improved effort and might be lost in the wagering a bit because (7) PALOMAR takes a similar drop off the claim by Cullipher. (5) CHASER HANOVER was awesome last week. The waters are much deeper here.

Race 6: Non-winners $20,000 in last 5 or 9 races (NW L3 10) life/TM 92 or less - $50K GTD Pick 4

(4) ANA AFREET N wasn't quite sharp enough to wrestle away the victory last week in his second start back from a break. Former consistent Open horse here deserves another shot. (3) PUT TO RIGHT flashed good speed at both ends of the mile to win last week. (8) DA DELIGHTFUL raced well despite missing more than four weeks of action when last seen on Jan. 22. He can be a player in here with Dube in the bike.

Race 7: $40,000-$50,000 Claiming Handicap

(6) THE BOOK OF LIFE sat behind a gapper and was too far out of it last week versus a deeper field than he faces here. (5) MINDTRIP bumps up in claiming price to get a better post and lucks into a field without a ton of early speed. Veteran claimer could make some noise. (2) WAY TO CLOSE was used hard and paid the price most recently. A smoother trip makes him a player.

Race 8: Sweetheart Preferred Mares Pace - Pick 6

(8) SOHO BURNING LOVE A is arguably the best mare in the field and the big track suits her nicely. We should also get a decent price with Kirby driving instead of Tetrick. (2) MACHNHOPE won a few races at this track last year and should benefit by the venue change. (3) RACINE BELL might need a start over the big track despite two qualifiers already but the inside post should keep her close regardless.

Race 9: Non-winners $14,000 (NW L3 $15,400) in last 5/TM 89 or less

(4) TAM MAJOR A went a gigantic mile last week in defeat and if he can bring anything close to that coupled with a semi-decent trip, watch out! (2) NO LOU ZING drops down off an ok mile and it would be no shock to see him move forward. Zeron stuck here, but there is probably some barn loyalty to that decision. (5) GROOVY JOE seems to be finding himself but can't get that final eighth. He's classy and can step up.

Race 10: Preferred Handicap - $50K GTD Pick 4

(3) MY PAL JOE is in the perfect spot in paper where he can hustle to the lead easily and sit no worse than a pocket trip. If he is going to win a Preferred, this is the week with others coming off layoffs. (6) COVERED BEACH won his last race in this class and I wouldn't be shocked to see Gingras press on the gas early. (8) LET IT RIDE N has missed four weeks of action but missed three weeks a couple of starts back and won anyway; dangerous.

Race 11: $60,000-$75,000 Claiming Handicap

(1) DINA BOLT N was used hard last time and still held reasonably well last time. He drops in for a tag now and you know a big mile will be coming. (6) ROCKIN SPEED seems to have a clear path to the front. (8) DE LOS CIELOS DEO is in great form and overcame the outside post last weekend.

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Race 12: Non-winners $4,500 (NW L5 $5,125) in last 5/NW17500 in 2021/22

(10) HEZA REAL DIAMOND gets some needed class relief and a driver change for a barn that seems to be heating up. Post 10 stinks but he has the early speed to overcome. (8) I'M A BIG DEAL is another class-dropper with some early zip. He also has plenty of class. (6) BAILEYS ROCK N was completely blocked and seemed to have more in the tank last week. He'll be on my pick 4 ticket. (1) TUXEDO BAY gets a key driver change to Dube from the trainer.

Race 13: TrackMaster Rating 80 (NW L5 81.5) or less

(2) LOUIE LOUIE qualified back well from a September layoff and this barn rarely sends them out short. If he's ready, he wins. (4) A STUD NAMED SAM couldn't handle this class last time but does get a new driver. (8) DL’S BIG ELVIS steps up slightly off two solid miles. (5) CECIL CASANOVA will take a ton of money on the driver change angle but has failed with catch-drivers before.